What better way to spend a rainy, Northern Neck weekend than in a wood shop, surrounded by antique (and yes, some electric) tools, aromatic shavings and fun people?

A group of 15+ gathered at Menokin on an early October weekend to learn some tricks of the trade in restoring and recreating wooden features of old buildings. Instructors from Oak Grove Restoration shared helpful information such as choosing the right wood for the job, the history of wood and why the old stuff is better than the new stuff, and which tools do what.

Plenty of hands-on activities had students carving, scraping, smoothing, sharpening and drilling. Enjoy the pictures!

Stayed tuned for information about our next workshop, which will probably be in the Spring.

Instructors Larry Singleton and Patrick Handler opened the session with instructions on wood splitting and how to replace the handle of an implement.

The shaping of the handle involved using a draw blade. This is a learned skill.

When words fail, use the white board.

Shaping and chiseling.

Knowing how and when to sharpen a chisel is important.

Participants were encouraged to bring their own tools in for sharpening.

Tree rings.

Exploring the constructions timbers from Menokin.

Instructor Hank Handler explains that – while hand tools are fun and interesting to use….

……

…power tools get the job done fast!

Splitting woods involves placing the blade on the log…

…then whacking the handle to split it.

More draw blade trials.

The hand lathe is a great way to smooth off the side of a board to a nice, even finish.

Hank, the chisel whisperer, explains the fine art of “feeling the wheel.”

You have to wait until the sparks fly in just the right direction to know that you’re getting close.

Larry, the purist, brought out stones and leather strops for his sharpening instructions.

Students claimed a spot at the work bench to put their chiseling skills to the test. The assignment involved….

Carving out a space on a board…

….that this hinge will fit into…

…..using these tools.

Pay close attention to the light in the brim of Hank’s cap.

Next stop. How to repair a window.

Routing out the wood to assemble the new parts of the sash.

Hank offered a consultation on an engineering and restoration project in Washington. Yes, that is an iPad. And yes, he knows how to use it.

Course evaluations were completed at the end of the weekend.